Qatar threatens Hamas with expulsion, officials say
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Qatar Pauses Mediator Role in Gaza Cease-fire
Above: Head of Hamas' National Relations Office Husam Badran at the Hamas Political Office in Doha, Qatar, on Aug. 31, 2024. Image copyright: Ali Altunkaya/ Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
Qatar's Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that it was taking a step back from its efforts to mediate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, saying that it would go back to the table when "the parties show willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war."
This comes amid reports that Doha had withdrawn as a mediator, which the Foreign Ministry described as "not accurate," saying instead that its efforts had "stalled."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The presence of Hamas leadership in Qatar has become untenable after their repeated rejection of reasonable hostage release proposals. Their continued residence in any American partner nation's capital is unacceptable, given their terrorist activities and the holding of American hostages. There can be no more business as usual with Hamas following their actions.
Establishment-critical narrative
The focus should remain on implementing previously agreed-upon frameworks rather than pursuing new negotiations that only provide cover for continued aggression. The Israeli occupation is the primary obstacle to successful peace talks, as demonstrated by their rejection of the May 6 proposal and ongoing military actions against Palestinian civilians.